The Effects of Mature and Immature Chicken Manure in the Growth and Yield of Lettuce Plant (Lactuca sativa L.)

Abstract

Different age of chicken manure may create a different effect on growth and production of plants. The reason for conducting the study was to determine the response of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) for mature chicken manure (old); its age was 6 months, and immature chicken manure; its age was less than 10 days. The research consisted of eleven treatments. Five deferent levels included 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 grams per plant (g plant-1) were used for each type of chicken manure (mature and immature) plus control treatment, and three replications were conducted for each treatment. The parameters of fresh weight (edible part only), leaves number, head diameter and plant length were recorded, at harvesting period. Also, the fresh weight has been converted to lettuce's yield ton hectare-1 (ton h-1). The result indicated that applying the old chicken manure (except 50 g plant-1) caused a significant decrease (P< 0.05) in fresh weight, leave number, head diameter and the yield of lettuce. However, lettuce supplied with high levels of immature chicken manure exhibited significant increase (P< 0.05) in fresh weight, plant length and the yield. Lettuce fertilized with 150 g plant-1 of immature chicken manure produced 68.48 ton h-1 which was 18 tons higher compared to only 50.20 ton h-1 in control’s plot. Based on the obtained result, avoiding application old chicken manure and utilization fresh manure in order to stimulate vegetative growth and lettuce yield are recommended.